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  • Last modified on Friday, 22 September 2023 09:42

Celebrating Five Years of the A. G. Leventis Chair in Archaeological Sciences at The Cyprus Institute

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 Photo: From left to right: Prof. Patrick Degryse, Dr Michael Boyd, Dr Evi Margaritis, Dr Tasso Leventis, Prof. Thilo Rehren, Dr Efthymia Nikita and Prof. Cyprian Broodbank

On Thursday, September 21 and Friday, September 22, 2023, The Cyprus Institute celebrates the completion of five successful years of the A. G. Leventis Chair in Archaeological Sciences, held by CyI Professor Thilo Rehren. Established in 2018, as a result of generous support from the A. G. Leventis Foundation, research supported by this Chair has played a pivotal role in advancing archaeological research in the Eastern Mediterranean.
 

The event featured official addresses by dignitaries followed by lectures from researchers supported by the A. G. Leventis Foundation, offering profound insights into the Chair’s diverse results impact. The event was addressed by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Prof. Vasiliki Kassianidou, in the presence of Dr Tasso Leventis and Mr. George David.

In his welcoming address, CyI President Prof. Stavros Malas noted that the A. G. Leventis Foundation is at the forefront of supporting a successful ecosystem in Archaeological Sciences. “The Leventis family is a great example of philanthropy and philopatry in Cyprus. A small and young country requires collaboration among various stakeholders to collectively maximize output”, he added.

Dr Tasso Leventis highlighted that the A. G. Leventis Chair in Archaeological Sciences at The Cyprus Institute nicely aligns with the Leventis Foundation’s commitment to archaeological research, environmental protection, and providing humanitarian assistance to the local community.

“Creative talent from different origins and perspectives can contribute to novel approaches and solutions. I am pleased to confirm that The Cyprus Institute could not have advanced to its current level of achievements without such important and well-applied collaborations as those we have created”, he concluded.

The Deputy Minister of Culture stated that the A. G. Leventis Foundation has nurtured a generation of archaeologists who have been able to pursue their dreams in this field of study.

“The establishment of the A. G. Leventis Chair at The Cyprus Institute, along with the appointment of my dear friend, Prof. Thilo Rehren, has propelled STARC, and by extension, The Cyprus Institute, to the forefront of Archaeological Material Studies, making solid and valuable contributions to the field and opening up amazing potential for the study of Cypriot and Mediterranean cultures”, she noted.

In his address, Prof. Thilo Rehren emphasized that “the way to reach a healthy and diverse ecosystem with tangible results is through academic excellence and a set of core values that my colleagues and I share. With that in mind, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to everybody who has given us their support over these five years until today”.

In addition to the Deputy Minister of Culture, the Ambassador of the United States, Mrs. Julie D. Fisher, former Minister Dr. Yiannis Toumazis and former EU Commissioner Mrs. Androulla Vassiliou, the Director of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus, Dr. Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou, members of the Board of Trustees and Friends of the Institute Association, as well as experts, scholars, students, and the general public attended the event.

As part of the celebrations, on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, Professor Cyprian Broodbank of the University of Cambridge, delivered an enthralling lecture entitled “Remaking the Middle Sea with Archaeological Science: Eight Questions that Mediterranean Archaeologists Should be Interested in” that transported the attendees through time and science, celebrating the Mediterranean's rich history and the remarkable advances in archaeological science that have continuously reshaped our understanding of this ancient region.

In his talk, Professor Broodbank emphasized that the Mediterranean has played a longstanding role as a crucible for exciting breakthroughs in archaeological science. These advancements have already significantly enhanced our comprehension of its long-term history and dynamics. These milestones span from the groundbreaking radiocarbon revolution, environmental archaeology, and initial strides in provenance studies during the 1950s to the 1970s, all the way to the recent biomolecular innovations and those on the horizon.

The two-day event concluded on Friday, September 22, 2023, with a diverse array of academic lectures on archaeology and archaeological science in the Eastern Mediterranean, showcasing the depth and breadth of ongoing research in this field, under the title of “A Kaleidoscope of Archaeological Sciences”.

 

 

 

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  • Last modified on Friday, 04 August 2023 06:27

CyI at the Forefront of Energy and Climate Policy Research in Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East

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The Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East (EMME) region has been recognized as a global climate change hotspot with particularly high vulnerability to climate change impacts. The Cyprus Institute has been instrumental in leading the scientific part of the EMME Climate Change Initiative of the Republic of Cyprus, coordinating thirteen Scientific Task Forces that engaged over 240 scientists and experts in identifying gaps in knowledge and policy, for a concerted regional response to the climate crisis. It has also coordinated the preparation of a Regional Climate Action Plan for this purpose.

Building on this initiative, CyI researchers have worked on energy and climate policy analyses for the region, with the goal to contribute to the assessment of decarbonization challenges of EMME countries and provide insights for policymakers. This work has recently led to two scientific publications in internationally acclaimed journals:
 
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In collaboration with Steven Griffiths of Khalifa University of Science and Technology in the United Arab Emirates, CyI researchers addressed the question how to share the effort of greenhouse gas emission reductions between EMME countries if the entire region is to be aligned with the Paris Agreement[1]. Fairness of global decarbonization effort is foundational to climate change mitigation discussions. The authors explored fourteen approaches, based on the three main equity principles defined by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to determine equitable national emission allocations in the year 2030 for the seventeen EMME countries, on the road to achieving net zero carbon emissions in 2050 (for the 1.5-degree Celsius climate stabilization target) or 2070 (for the 2-degree target). The significant heterogeneity among EMME countries makes it particularly challenging to allocate such targets in a way that is both fair and politically acceptable. 

generation mixMoreover, CyI researchers have developed the first fully open-source energy systems model for the EMME region, relying solely on publicly available data[1]. This model is made freely available for researchers in the region or beyond who may wish to conduct more detailed analysis at regional or national level. Scenarios implemented with this model highlight that increased electricity interconnections between EMME countries can offer great benefits by unlocking the largely unexploited renewable energy potential of the region. Electricity trade can contribute very substantially to the cost-optimal achievement of greenhouse gas emission abatement targets, and can even lead the entire EMME region to net zero carbon emissions by the mid-21st century.
 
These two studies underline the huge environmental and socio-economic benefits that can result from cooperation among EMME countries. The Cyprus Institute continues partnering with knowledge institutions in EMME to improve prosperity in the region based on science, technology, and innovation. 

 

 

[1] Despina Yiakoumi, Constantinos Taliotis, Theodoros Zachariadis & Steven Griffiths (2023), Sharing the decarbonisation effort: getting Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East countries on the road to global carbon neutrality. Climate Policy, DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2023.2216178.

[2] Constantinos Taliotis, Marios Karmellos, Nestor Fylaktos & Theodoros Zachariadis (2023), Enhancing Decarbonization of Power Generation Through Electricity Trade in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Region. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition, DOI: 10.1016/j.rset.2023.100060.

  • Last modified on Monday, 17 July 2023 07:54

Cyprus Institute Researchers Document the Shatby Necropolis in Alexandria, Egypt

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 Image: Overall view of the 3D model of the site

 

Following the completion of a thorough three-year preservation project, the Hellenistic-era Shatby Necropolis in Alexandria is now open to the public, both physically and digitally.
 
The official opening of the Shatby Necropolis took place at the beginning of May, 2023 in conjunction with the international conference “Alexandria and Hellenism in Northern Egypt”, organized on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the Archaeological Society of Alexandria. Researchers from STARC’s Andreas Pittas Art Characterization Laboratories (APAC Labs), presented their work on the digital documentation and 3D modeling of the necropolis, which is the first-ever complete scientific documentation of the site, providing an invaluable record for identification and documentation of threats to the site, both present and in the near future.
 
The conference and the opening of the site mark the successful completion of the Alexandrian Necropolis Project (2020-2023), a multidimensional archaeological project carried out by the Archaeological Society of Alexandria, with the participation of The Cyprus Institute / APAC Labs in the field of digital documentation, and of the University of Athens in the field of research. The project was generously supported by the A. G. Leventis Foundation.  
 
The APAC Labs team undertook the digital documentation of the site utilizing advances in 2D and 3D imaging technologies as well as selected spectral and technical photography applications. The detailed 3D model provides the necessary documentation of the site’s current condition and state of preservation. Such detailed documentation is necessary to establish a detailed record of the monument, which offers much-improved documentation from the 1900s—which was rather incomplete due to time limitations. The site’s digital documentation allows also the identification of all alterations (natural and man-made) that have occurred at the site since its discovery, at least as captured by the 1900s plans.
 
The cemetery was discovered in the first decade of the 20th century, during the systematic excavations of Evaristo Breccia, director of the Greco-Roman Museum of Alexandria, but the excavation was not completed. After decades of abandonment, the Archaeological Society of Alexandria expedition resumed the excavation of Breccia as part of the Alexandria Necropolis Project. The excavations provided a complete picture of Hypogeum A, identifying among other things its ancient southern facade, anthropological material (skeletons) and objects in good condition. Among the abundant movable finds of the excavation are sculptures, coins, glass objects and ceramics, especially Hadra-type hydria, characteristic of the Alexandrian necropolis. After three years of systematic work (excavation, restoration, digital documentation, upgrading of the surroundings) the Hellenistic necropolis of Shatby is now a modern archaeological park, unique of its kind in Egypt.

 

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Aerial view of the Shatby Necropolis as seen before the start of the project “The Alexandrian Necropolis”

 

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Photo from before and after, showing the digital documentation of the Hypogeum A on the left and a historical photo of the Hypogeum A on the right

 

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Overall view of the 3D model of the site

 

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Detail of the 3D model of Hypogeum A showing a sarcophagus

 

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APAC Researcher Athanasios Koutoupas using a laser scanner for the digital documentation at Hypogeum A

  • Last modified on Friday, 07 July 2023 08:56

Bringing Back to Life the Ariño Dinosaur Fossils in Spain

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The STARC Researchers participated in an important multidisciplinary and multi-institutional project for the 3D documentation and digital analysis of the Ariño (Teruel, Spain) dinosaurs fossils

 

Researchers from CyI's Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Center (STARC) are participating in an important multidisciplinary and multi-institutional project for the 3D documentation and digital analysis of the Ariño (Teruel, Spain) dinosaurs fossils dated to the Early Cretaceous (145 Ma to 100.5 Ma –millions of years ago).
 
In 2010, inside the Santa María de Ariño open-pit coal mine, the evidence of the presence of dinosaur bones was found. Over the vast expanse of the mine, lies an abundance of vertebrate skeletons offering a remarkable potential to increase scientific knowledge of European dinosaurs. Two new dinosaur genera were identified: the iguanodontian Proa and the ankylosaur Europelta, as well as many other fossils, mainly vertebrates, from the Albian age (approximately 113.0 ± 1.0 Ma to 100.5 ± 0.9 Ma).
 
3D scan of dinosaur fossil
3D scan of a dinosaur fossil
Currently, four new genera have been described (the aforementioned plus the pleurosternid tortoise Toremys and the goniopholidid crocodile Hulkepholis) and eight new species among the almost 10,000 fossils corresponding to 143 concentrations located inside the open-pit Santa María coal mine. The huge expanse of the site, the abundant and fairly complete vertebrate skeletons and the scarcity of European dinosaur sites in the Albian, make it an exceptional place, which brings a remarkable progress in the knowledge of European vertebrates –some of which represents the most modern known records.
 
The dinosaurs’ fossils are now exhibited and conserved at the Palaeontological Network Foundation of Teruel-Dinópolis, one of the biggest tourist attractions of the province - more than 3 million visitors since its 2010 launching.
 
The research aims at investigating the mechanisms of alteration of the sulfides (pyrite) that the fossils contain and defining an optimal conservation treatment. 3D documentation will allow monitoring the structural changes on the basis of environmental and climatic change, to investigate the deformation and fracture mechanisms in order to evaluate the structural condition of fossils, and obtain an ‘Augmented Heritage Object’ aimed at organizing and visualizing multidisciplinary data for further documentation, conservation and dissemination activities.
 
This research is conducted as part of the European project IPERION HS-Integrating Platforms for the European Research Infrastructure on Heritage Science and the ESPADON project, under the direction of Prof. Vincent Detalle (Cergy Paris University). Collaborators include the National Centre for Research and Restoration in French Museums - C2RMF (Dr Kilian Laclavetine and Dr Xueshi Bai), the Palaeontological Network Foundation of Teruel-Dinópolis (Dr Ana González), the Aragonese School of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage Artifacts - ESCYRA (Prof. Nuria Miguel, Prof. Carmen De Peña), and The Cyprus Institute (Assoc. Prof. Sorin Hermon, Dr Valentina Vassallo and Rahaf Orabi).
 
The research has received extensive media coverage in Spain with several newspapers and TV news featured the ongoing work of the STARC researchers on the 3D documentation and digital analysis of the exceptional Ariño dinosaurs’ fossils.

 

Media Coverage:

 

 

 

 

 

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  • Last modified on Monday, 26 June 2023 12:18

High Performance Computing Facility (HPCF) Receives Award for its Impact on International Competitiveness of Local Companies

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CyI’s High Performance Computing Facility (HPCF) was awarded an honorary distinction at the 2021 Export Awards organized by the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry for its significant contribution and impact for the promotion of international competitiveness of local businesses.
 
The award ceremony took place on Monday, June 26, 2023, at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, in the presence of H.E. Mr. Nicos Christodoulides, President of the Republic. Receiving the award on behalf CyI were CyI President, Prof. Stavros Malas and the Head of HPCF, Dr. George Tsouloupas.
 
The mission of the High Performance Computing Facility is to provide Advanced computing ICT services to CyI and its Research Centres and act as the national supercomputing facility for Cyprus providing computational and data resources to the research and innovation community of Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean region.
 
The multi-million HPC infrastructure of the Cyprus institute is sustained through national and European funds and throughout the last decade the Facility has had a major impact on the competitiveness of local industry through the provision of advanced computing and support.
 

overview of access to hpc for typical year

Overview of access to HPC for a typical year
 

Since its inception, the Facility has spearheaded HPC in the region providing computational capacity bundled with related services, such as engineering, training and support. This is a key differentiator from the proliferating public cloud companies since the support provided by CyI engineers empowers small and medium-sized companies that lack such in-house expertise. Initially aimed at academia, the HPC Facility now has a growing number of industrial customers from Greece, Lebanon in addition to Cyprus.

The Cyprus Institute’s HPC Facility has played a significant supporting role in a wide range of industries ranging from ICT to Farming and Agriculture, and Maritime. Whether it is for the development of computing algorithms for advanced medical imaging equipment, support of farming for the production of Halloumi and other local produce (through collaboration with the national Agricultural Research Institute), or the development of services for the world-wide Maritime industry for real-time weather-informed intelligent ship routing, tens of Cypriot companies with an outward facing international market have benefited from the Infrastructure of the Institute and the expertise of its engineers.
 
In the near future this support will be further strengthened through the operation of the European Digital Innovation Hub (“DiGiNN” project) for AI, HPC and other advanced digital technologies, which was recently awarded to CyI through a European competitive process, but also via the continuing operation of the CyI-hosted National HPC Competence Center.
 

 

 

 

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  • Last modified on Monday, 12 June 2023 13:19

CyI Innovation Workshop: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Industry in Cyprus

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The first Innovation Workshop and Speed Networking Event, organized by The Cyprus Institute, brought together the country's academic and business community

 

The first “Innovation Workshop and Speed ​​Networking Event” was successfully organized by The Cyprus Institute in collaboration with the Association of Research and Innovation Companies of Cyprus (CARIE), and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), with the support of the EU funded projects “EUROCC2” “EMME-CARE”, and the European Digital Innovation Hub in Cyprus - “DiGiNN” project.
 
This workshop aimed at initiating a collaboration between the Institute's researchers and Cypriot companies, which are actively involved in applied research and innovation, with the ultimate goal of creating synergies and meaningful partnerships for knowledge transfer, and also the development of products and services that can significantly enhance the competitiveness of the ecosystem of high-tech and deep-tech companies in Cyprus.
 
The particular workshop – the first of many initiatives planned for the future – focused on the creation of synergies for the transfer of knowledge, but also on the development of products and services that can significantly strengthen the competitiveness of the ecosystem of companies that produce high-tech products and applications in Cyprus. At the same time, a main objective was the smooth transition for the digital transformation Cyprus and its transition into a knowledge-based economy.
 
The agenda of the workshop included presentations about the “DiGINN Hub” as well as presentations from CyI’s Center Directors – Prof. Fadi Comair, Director of EEWRC, Prof. Michel Menu, Director of STARC, Prof. Constantine Dovrolis, Director of CaSToRC, Prof. Jean Sciare, Director of CARE-C, and Prof. Theodoros Zachariades, Director of STEDI-RC.
 
Additionally, Dr Chrysanthia Leontiou, CyI Head of the Graduate School presented the graduate school programs and opportunities for collaboration with the companies and Dr Panayiota Katsamba, CyI Managing Coordinator, talked about CyI’s strategic plan in facilitating the Digital Transformation of Cyprus. Mr. Fabio Montagnino, CyI Head of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Directorate (IED), gave an overview on how his team is working towards “bridging” the gap between research and industry in Cyprus.
 
During the workshop, a speed-networking event between CyI researchers and company representatives, also took place. Company delegations had the opportunity to have a guided tour of the Institute's laboratories and research facilities.
 
Workshop attendees included CARIE member companies such as ADDITESS (Advanced Integrated Technology Solutions & Services Ltd), Advanced Materials Design and Manufacturing Ltd, AI Zerocaliber Ltd, CELLOC LTD, CYRIC Cyprus Research And Innovation Center Ltd, Ecliptic Defense and Space, EFEVRE TECH LTD, Elysee Irrigation Ltd, EMBIO Diagnostics, Lumoscribe, NOVATEX SOLUTIONS LTD, SignalGeneriX, Malloc Limited, eBOS Technologies Ltd, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Cyprus Seeds, and research staff from The Cyprus Institute.
 
Prof. Stavros Malas, President of The Cyprus Institute, Dr Tasos Kounoudes, President of CARIE, and Mr. Marios Tsiakkis, Secretary General of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry addressed the event, which took place under the auspices of the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Mr. Filippos Hadjizacharia.

 

 

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  • Last modified on Thursday, 01 June 2023 06:29

“Meet the FIVE Face to Face”: Cyprus Discovers its Identity Through its History

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From left to right: Mrs. Giota Papadopoulou, Prof. Stavros Malas, Mrs. Philippa Karsera-Christodoulides, Dr Kirsi Lorentz and Mr. Michalis Hatzigiannis


Contemporary Cypriot culture and the historical signature of the past was highlighted at the event “Meet the 5 Face to Face” organized by The Cyprus Institute and the Department of Antiquities, in the presence of the First Lady, Mrs. Philippa Karsera-Christodoulides and the Deputy Minister of Culture Mr. Michalis Hatzigiannis.

 Jewellery, fashion, ceramics, wine and culinary art, inspired by Cypriot history but with modern aesthetics and for the contemporary palate were presented, showcasing the island's rich cultural heritage through the energising marriage of the modern and the old.
 
In particular, the ceramic artist Efthimios Symeou, the jewellery designer Yiannos Ioannou, the fashion designer Kika Ioannidou, the oenologist Sofocles Vlassidis and the culinary artist Roddy Damalis presented their work, interlaced with historical theatrical readings of real-life stories from the Chalcolithic, Greco-Roman and medieval period.
 
Five stories of people who lived in Cyprus in the past were brought to life through creative storytelling, using technology including augmented reality, sound and image. Five people of yesterday returned to the Cyprus of today, as a result of the detailed scientific analyses of their remains, illuminating aspects of the daily life of our ancestors in relation to the modern era.
 
The event took place on Tuesday, May 30th, at the Cyprus Museum and is part of the broader project entitled “Face to Face: Meet an Ancient Cypriot”, led by CyI Assoc. Professor Kirsi Lorentz, which aims to valorize research results for tourist engagement, through their contact with the cultural heritage and history of Cyprus.
 
The results of the scientific research within the context of this project, could become an important contributor in the efforts to upgrade Cyprus’ tourism product, giving the country a huge competitive advantage and at the same time contributing to the stimulation of the economy.
 
In his welcoming address, President of The Cyprus Institute, Dr Stavros Malas, highlighted the work of CyI and its researchers, who have the expertise to reproduce even the lives of people of ancient times, and at the same time the ability to turn archaeological findings into an object of curiosity for the public, inducing knowledge acquisition. “The Cyprus Institute will continue to be at the forefront, next to society and the state”, he said.
 
On behalf of the Director of the Department of Antiquities, Ms. Eftychia Zachariou, Curator of Antiquities, noted that this result is a 4-year effort, which bridges the gap between yesterday and today. This program, she explained, places the life of the ancient Cypriots at the center, decoding the evidence from their skeletal remains, and thus giving them a voice, so that these can contribute towards the creation of cultural routes and alternative tourism products.
 
The Deputy Minister of Culture, Mr. Michalis Hatzigiannis, spoke about utilizing the results of The Cyprus Institute's scientific research in such a creative and successful way. This project, he said, is a manifestation of the creativity of Cypriot culture at its finest. “This project is fuelled by a synergistic and creative energy, which results in the marriage of the ancient and the modern in Cyprus”, he noted.
 
Host Organisation: The Cyprus Institute. Contributing partners include: Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Tourism, Cyprus University of Technology, ACTA, ACTE, Limassol Development Agency, Vlassides Winery, Roddy Damalis, Yiannos Ioannou of Nikos Ioannou Jewelers, Studio Ceramics,TOP KINISIS Travel PLC, Kika Ioannidou, and the participating foreign research organizations, University of Cambridge and University of Bradford.
 
The project “The Face to Face: Meet an Ancient Cypriot” is funded by the Research Innovation Foundation, and involves academics, researchers as well as social and governmental bodies. As part of this project, an exhibition titled “FIVE / ΠΕΝΤΕ” Face to Face: Meet an Ancient Cypriot” is taking place at the Cyprus Museum from 31st of March until 17th of September 2023.
 
Further information here: https://face2face.cyi.ac.cy/

 

 

 

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  • Last modified on Friday, 21 April 2023 12:53

Tracing History at the Monastery of St. John Lampadistis: Sharing APAC / STARC Research at Kalopanagiotis

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On the occasion of the International Day of Monuments and Sites, 18th of April 2023, and in collaboration with the Department of Antiquities, the Bishopric of Morphou, the village of Kalopanagiotis and the British High Commission, CyI’s Andreas Pittas Art Characterization Laboratories (APAC Labs) organized a day-long event at the UNESCO world heritage site of the Monastery of St. John Lampadistis in the village of Kalopanagiotis. The “Tracing History at the Monastery of St. John Lampadistis” event was part of the broader program of APAC Labs events celebrating three years of operations.

Visitors were welcomed by the mayor of the village of Kalopanagiotis Mr. Lambrou, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Ben Rawlings, and STARC Director, Dr. Michel Menu. The Director of the Department of Antiquities, Dr. Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou and the Metropolitan of Morphou Neophytos conveyed their greetings and support.

The event offered guided tours and focused presentations on the interdisciplinary research work pursued at the site by APAC Labs / STARC specialists and other experts. Throughout the monastic complex, specialists were on hand to provide spotlight presentations on the various studies APAC Labs has performed at the site. Assoc. Professor Nikolas Bakirtzis, introduced visitors to the history, the art and architecture of the Byzantine monastery.

Mia Gaia Trentin and Stelios Irakleous provided key insights into the studies of historic graffiti and Karamanli pilgrims at the monastery. Raphael Moreau, CyI PhD candidate, presented preliminary results of an ongoing multi-sensored analysis of wall paintings in the monastic church. Another PhD candidate, Mehmetcan Soyluoglu, introduced visitors to dendrochronological research and sampling of the site’s wooden heritage. Assoc. Professor Sorin Hermon and PhD candidate Luciarita Nunziata offered a look at the processes for capturing 3D data of the site and documenting environmental challenges and threats.

Finally, PhD student Nicolette Vollero Levy gave a tour of the Monastery’s icon museum, highlighting new information about icons revealed by APAC Labs’ technical analysis. Andriana Nikolaidou, Rahaf Orabi, Antonia Agapiou, Soodabeh Sajadi, Valentina Vassalo and Anastasia Tsanga contributed to the preparation and the organization of the successful event which was well attended by numerous groups of local and international visitors.

Working in collaboration with the Department of Antiquities, APAC Labs / STARC have been studying the rich heritage of the famous UNESCO-listed Painted Churches of the Troodos Mountains. Overall, there are ten church monuments included on the World Heritage List, all richly decorated with murals, providing an overview of Byzantine and post-Byzantine painting in Cyprus. These sites feature art and architecture that reflect the cultural life of Cyprus in the Byzantine and Medieval periods located at the crossroads of Mediterranean maritime connections and cultural exchanges between East and West. APAC Labs’ research provides a holistic approach to the documentation, analysis and preservation of these important monuments including a broad range of methods such as physico-chemical analysis of the materials used in the wall paintings and the icons of these churches, 3D documentation and visualization, dendrochronology, structural archaeology and the novel study of Medieval and Early Modern graffiti. Furthermore, the study of Byzantine and post-Byzantine monasticism and the complex role of pilgrimage, cult and ritual in the formation of cultural identity through time are central themes that provide the necessary context for the effective utilization of science and technology, like in the case of the Troodos churches.

Thanks to the generous support of Dr. Andreas Pittas, APAC Labs / STARC researchers have been developing task-specific service protocols related to material characterization and data integration, address issues of provenance, and assess the state of preservation of works of art, archaeological objects and monuments. The organization of the APAC day at Kalopanagiotis allowed the opportunity to share exciting research results and to promote the meaningful use of science and technology in the ways we study, preserve and understand the past and the precious cultural heritage of Cyprus.

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  • Last modified on Thursday, 06 April 2023 07:29

“sCYence Fair 2023”: Science and Innovation for Tomorrow’s Young Researchers

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The largest and most innovative Science Festival of Cyprus, “sCYence Fair 2023”, was successfully co-organized by The Cyprus Institute and the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute’s Education Unit for the Environment and Sustainable Development. The event took place under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, at The Cyprus Institute’s premises, on Wednesday, 5th of April 2023.

“sCYence Fair” aims to stimulate scientific interest and to encourage participation by young students and support the next generation of scientists from Cyprus attended. The event provided an opportunity for our young scientists to increase their awareness of the wonders of science, add to their knowledge, and broaden their scientific horizons.
 
This year’s festival was supported by the representation of the European Commission in Cyprus, and together with Embassies of EU Member States in Cyprus presented scientific activities, experiments and products that brought children closer to real life, modern technology.
 
An unprecedented number of 67 student teams from students at all levels from schools across the private and public sector in Cyprus. The students presented innovative scientific activities, while the best and most imaginative activities and presentations from Primary, Secondary and High Schools were awarded in their respective categories on the basis of the underlying science, the impact, and overall presentation of the activity.


The winners in the three categories were:

Primary Schools:

Winner: Primary School Chryseleousas: Roads in Harmony with Nature

2nd Place: B’ Primary School of Xylofagou: A vast sea of energy

3rd Place: B’ Primary School of Agios Athanasios: Addressing the problem of plastic on our planet


Gymnasiums:

Winner: Gymnasium Kokkinochorion Panos Ioannou: The Shellhive

2nd Place: Archaggelos Gymnasium: Robot Firefighters

3rd Place: Gymnasium Livadion in collaboration with Gymnasium Aradippou: Study of Insect Activities Scantius Aegyptius and Pyrrhocoris Apterus


Lyceums:

Winner: Pascal English School Larnaca: Audito: Giving a voice to the voiceless

2nd Place: A’ TESEK Nicosia: Examples of Angular Acceleration from everyday life & “Weighing the Universe” Investigating the Differences Between Mass and Weight on Various Planets Using Arduino on a Bathroom Scale

3rd Place: Laniteio Lyceum: Natural remains of P. Oceanica seagrass are converted into phosphorus absorption ally and become fertilizer


Honourable Mention: TESEK Paphos – Lyceum Kykkou Paphos: Using Educational Robotics for volumetric Analysis

The winning teams were awarded internships at The Cyprus Institute and team members will have the chance to broaden their skills and knowledge by being mentored from experienced CyI researchers.

The “sCYence Fair 2023” opening ceremony was addressed by the First Lady, Mrs. Philippa Karsera-Christodoulides, in the presence of CyI President, Prof. Stavros Malas, the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Mr. Filippos Hadjizacharias, the Ambassador of Sweden in Cyprus, the country holding the EU presidency this semester, H.E. Mr. Martin Hagstrom, and the Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Commission Office in Cyprus, Mr. Nicolas Isaris.
 
In his welcoming address, CyI President, Prof. Stavros Malas, stated that “sCYence Fair 2023, which has now become an institution, aims to cultivate and highlight research in Cyprus society. Progress is synonymous with investment in knowledge and research. It is obligation of the current generation to hand over to the next a better culture of research”. Prof. Malas also stated that students need to invest in knowledge, primarily taking care of the planet, which is threatened by the climate change. At the same time, he gave special thanks to the Ambassador of Sweden, whose country presides over the EU, while underlining the importance of the participation of other member states of EU with their own booths at the “sCYence Fair”.
 
“Initiatives such as the “sCYence Fair 2023”, contribute significantly to the development of an ecosystem of research, innovation and entrepreneurship, and promote the formation of the new generation of scientists”, stated Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Mr. Filippos Hadjizacharias. Using the words of the British writer Philip Stanhope, he indicated that if “we do not plant the tree of knowledge when we are young, it will not give us its shadow when we are old”. At the same time, he encouraged the students to believe in their abilities and become the wind of change that the country needs, because as he said, Cyprus may be a small country, but it has big minds.
 
In his speech, the Ambassador of Sweden, H.E. Mr. Hagstrom, noted that “sCYence Fair 2023” summarizes many of the priorities of the Swedish EU Presidency, such as the green transition, mitigating the effects of climate change and investing in innovation, which is, as he said, the means for this green transition and addressing environmental challenges, as well as the means to become more competitive. He even invited everyone to visit the Swedish booth and learn about an innovative bicycle helmet with airbags, which is placed around the neck and offers great safety to cyclists.
 
The Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Commission Office in Cyprus, Mr. Nikolaos Isaris, congratulated The Cyprus Institute for organizing the event which, as he pointed out, enables children to learn through experiment and play. At the same time, he indicated that digital skills and engagement with science and technology are among the main priorities of the European Year of Skills, which is being celebrated this year by the member states of the European Union.
 
Announcing the opening of this year’s “sCYence Fair”, the First Lady, Mrs. Philippa Karsera-Christodoulides highlighted that this initiative contributes to the development and progress of our country. “Today, it is a particularly special day because it focuses on science, innovation and progress, areas that will lead Cyprus to the next era, which will be greener, more innovative and humane”. The First Lady recalled a statement by the President of the Republic who indicated that the greatest wealth of Cyprus is its human resources and which is why, as he noted, that we must invest in education and training, in order to achieve what we all seek: progress.

The multi-collective and rich program of “sCYence Fair 2023”, included among others:

  • Educational Applications of Virtual Reality
  • Presentation of STEM & Robotics Programs
  • The largest Planetarium in the Eastern Mediterranean for exploring the World that extends beyond what the naked eye can see
  • Participation of the mobile Planetarium “Starlab” in which attendees had the opportunity to watch a simulation of the starry sky and tour distant constellations, the Milky Way and our solar system, discovering the world of the future
  • Participation of the European Commission with presentation of programming activities and assembly of computers with Raspberry Pi and programming exercises with BBC Micro:bit
  • The Embassies of Sweden, France, Finland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Netherlands and Spain educated the public on interesting topics such as: How kites help islands to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, how a barrow can help remove microplastics from the oceans and how magnets fight cancer
  • Presentation of innovative activities by researchers of The Cyprus Institute
  • Robotics Exhibition using Robots from First Tech Challenge (FTC) on a regular 4X4 meter track
  • Physics Decathlon for experiential activity with ten interesting Physics experiments for young and old
  • Presentation of the SEMEP International Program (South Eastern Mediterranean Sea Project), which is coordinated by UNESCO and promotes scientific study and research on environmental issues
  • Exhibition of Prestigio multiboards for training and Security Dogs robots in action

Additionally, Christiana Artemiou and Sofia Proimou conveyed the pulse of the biggest science celebration, through a live link of Love FM Cyprus Radio Station.

Major Sponsors: ExxonMobil, XM, CYTA
Sponsors: Medochemie, MUSKITA Aluminium Industries Ltd, Asbis
Supporters: Cyprus Computer Society, Epiteugma Robotics Lab, Interstellar Science Education and Cultural Institute, The Cyprus Planetarium, Engino, Nutty Scientists, Decathlon Physics, Heron Digital Education & Mathisis, STS Events
Media Sponsor: Kathimerini

 

 

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  • Last modified on Wednesday, 08 March 2023 12:10

The Cyprus Institute Awarded a Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean Award for 2023

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The Cyprus Institute is among the winners of a Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) Award for 2023, announced recently during the 17th General Assembly which took place in Rabat, Morocco in early March.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) is an international organization, bringing together 34-member parliaments from the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions to discuss and face critical issues, such as regional conflicts, security and counter-terrorism, humanitarian crises, economic integration, climate change, mass migrations, education, human rights and inter-faith dialogue.

The President of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Annita Demetriou, submitted CyI’s nomination in a letter to the PAM, following a proposal by the Cypriot delegation to the Assembly consisting of MPs Mr. Andreas Pasiourtides, Mrs. Rita Theodorou-Superman, Mr. Christos Orphanidis and Mr. Charalambos Theopemptou.

In announcing the award, Mrs. Demetriou noted that the awards are given every year to personalities and organizations from the political, economic, social, cultural, scientific, sport, journalism and artistic communities, who contribute through their actions to establish bridges among the peoples of the region so as to foster understanding, mutual respect, socio-economic cooperation, political dialogue, confidence building and conflict solution. In particular, this year, she added, emphasis was placed on the environment, a field in which The Cyprus Institute particularly excels.

“I warmly congratulate The Cyprus Institute for this award, as it is another recognition of the excellent technological and interdisciplinary work carried out at the Institute. Additionally, the award highlights the Institute’s important contributions to the formation of the Regional Action Plan within the context of supporting the Initiative of the Republic of Cyprus to deal with Climate Change in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East region, as well as its contributions to research and innovation. I wish The Cyprus Institute every success in its current and future endeavours”, Mrs. Demetriou said.

The Cyprus Institute is the second Cypriot Institution in a row to win the award, following last year’s award to the Karaiskakeio Foundation.

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